- this is a species of the genus Rafetus, better known as Bicallosite Soft-shelled turtles. There are several species within the genus.

- the Hoan Kiem soft-shelled turtle is either a separate species, called Rafetus leloii or the last of a population of Rafetus swinhoei, the Shangai Softshell Turtle. The question on about what it exactly is, is for taxonomists, and is very common in the scientific world.

- if anyone would have actually gone to the lake in Hanoi personally, they would have seen a stuffed individual of this species which was caught decades ago. The animal is enormous and weighs over 200kg, as the other species in this poorly known genus .

- there is no question that the giant turtle was therefore present in hoan kiem lake. It is only a question wether an individual still lives there, and regular sightings say it does. For those visiting hanoi, they will see groups of people standing along the water and looking for it every single evening, when it is more likely to be reported. However, the lake is highly polluted and turbid, and the single specimen might well be diseased.

in any case, it is not a mythical animal.

Like other soft-shelled turtles it has a nose built like a snorkel, it just has to poke the tip out of the water. If it is still around it likely has no problem finding reedy areas, hollow portions of bank, overhangs, etc. to do this in hiding.